Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch means



. J. T. MoNANi-:Y 3 191,049 June 22 1965 LIGHT RESPONSIVE DECIMAL ToBINARY DATA CONVERTER swITcH MEANS Filed Maren 19, 1962 MMZWWOQ @ci Q mIN VEN TOR.

United States Patent O 3,9i,tld9 LIGHT RESPGNSWE DECHMAL 'E0 BINARY DATAQQNVEREER Sii/HCH MEANS Joseph 'i'. McNaney, SS48 lienider Drive, LaMesa, Calif. Filed lidar. 19, i962, Ser. No. @(3,603 7 Claims. (Ci.EOM-227) This invention relates to data converter switch means which isdesigned for use in conjunction with data converter means of the typewherein binary coded voltage levels are derived from decimalized lightradiation input functions.

This invention, therefore, represents a switch means which utilizes adecimally positioned light source as the input signal for effectingcircuit connections -between a source of voltage and a set of binarycode rela-ted circuit terminals in a manner corresponding to thedecimally related position of the llight source.

A decimally positioned source of light may, for example, Y

be generated by a cathode ray tube, a mirror galvanometer, tanilluminated chart of graphically recorded information, etc. There arenumerous means of generating a decimally positioned light beam fromwhich a binary coded signal must be derived. Itis, therefore, an objectof this invention to provide .the switch means necessary for convertint7such information -into corresponding binary code related circuitconnections.

It is `a further object -of this invent-ion to provide an improved`decimal to binary data converter switch means which is responsive tolight input information which is simple in construction, positive inoperation, and troublefree in lcontinued use.

' It is still another object of this invention to utilize the lightconducting efiiciency -of optical fiber light conducting means tocontrol the illumination of binary code related photoconductive switchelements corresponding to light information being received from adecimalized light source.-

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter as a description ofthe invention proceeds.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this inventionare .set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, both las to its o-rganization, and method of operation, as wellas additional objects and advantages, Will best be understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE l is a plan View of an embodiment of the invention;

yFIGURE 2 is an end view of FIGURE 1, showing light input ends -of the.optical fiber light conducting means;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of lFIGURE. 1 through A-A;

:FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of tFIGURE 1 through B B.

Referring now to FIGURE l, which is a plan view of the decimal to binarydata converter .switch means of this invention, and with reference tothe end view and sectional views, respectively, of FIGURES 2, 3 and 4,the invention is shown to include a plurality of paralleled light guideslf3, or, optical fiber light conducting means l0, arrayed, for example,in a straight line .side-by-side relationship. The optical fibers l@will, thereby, be permitted to receive light upon entering a firsttransverse end l2, whereupon the light is conducted to a second.transverse end 14 thereof. Each of the fibers li? have a longitudinaldimension which exceeds its cross `sectional dimension, a predeterminedindex of refraction, and a smooth outer surface gener-ally along itslongitudinal dimension. The fibers it, which are composed of glass,lucite, or similar light conducting materials, can be drawn down tocross sectional dimensions of less than 0.061, and in order for t' t E,l d l ,did ce Patented June 22, 1965 fibers such as these to beefficient light conductors they must be clad in a light conductingmaterial having an index of refraction less than the predetermined indexof the fiber itself. The fibers Tril, therefore, are intimately joinedwithia light conducting material 16 which has an index of refractionless than the predetermined index of the fibers lil. The lower indexlight conducting material iti of this invention, Which also functions asthe support means for ,the fibers lil, is intimately joined to apredetermined portion of the outer surface of each of the fibers iii, soas to leave an uncoated portion i8 along the longitudinal dimensionthereof, while forming a smooth interface at and along the junctureZtl.V

A layer of photoconductive material 22 is disposed upon and intimatelyjoined to at least a portion of the uncoated portion i3 of each fiberlil. The layer 22 is shown to have a first end 24 and a second end 26,and a first edge 2S and `a second edge 3d. The first edge 28 is shown toextend from at least the uncoated surface 18 of a first fiber lfm of theplurality of fibers lil to at -least the uncoated surface i8 of a lastfiber l'b thereof. Along the ysecond end 26 of the layer 22 there is anelectrode 32 which is operatively connected thereto, and which extendsfrom the first edge 28 of the layer 22 adjacent the first fiber ida tothe second edge 3d of the layer 22 adjacent the last fiber lfb.

A layer -of electrical insulating material 34 is disposed -upon thelayer 22 of photoconductive material, and a plurality of paralleledelectrical conductors 36a, Seb, 36e and 36d are disposed upon the layer34 of electrical insulating material, extend-ing from the first fiberlila to the last fiber 10b of the plurality Vof fibers fil. Flheelectrical conductors 36 are angularly displaced with respect to thefibers if? so as to define between them a plurality of fiber lil andconductor Se crossings. Coincident with predetermined crossings Ioffibers itl and conductors 36, the Iconductors 36 are operativelyconnected to the layer 22 of photoconductive material by means ofindividual lead-through connector means 3S. There, of course, will notbe any electrical insulating material 34 at each of the predeterminedfiber l@ and conductor 36 crossings to thereby permit the electricalconductors 36 to be in electrical contact with the layer 22 at thesepredetermined crossings. Although I have illustrated the use ofleadthrough connector means 3% .as a means of connecting the conductors36 to the layer 22, it should be understood that the electricalconductor material 36 itself may be made to contact the layer Z2directly through openings in the insulating material 3d and, thereby,avoid the requirement of the lead-through connector means 3S.

The photoconductive material 22 may be chosen from such materials asselenium, cadmium sulphide, silver selinide, or like materials. in adark state, the layer 22 presents itself as a resistor to the `ow ofelectrical current. When properly illuminated, however, the layer V22can be made to function las a conductor of electrical current. In thepresent invent-ion predetermined areas of the layer 22 will be made tofunction as a conductor of electrical current upon the admission oflight to predetermined optical fibers lil. For example, upon theadmission of light to a given fiber it?, the photoconductive material 22of that particular ber will -be illuminated and made conductive from thefirs-t end 24 to the second end 26 thereof. The layer 22 will beilluminated by virtue of lthe fact that the light upon entering lthefirst transverse end 12 of the fiber 1t) will be conducted to theopposite end 14 by reason of a series of internal reflections madepossible by the lower index light conducting material 16 intimatelyjoining the outer `surface of the fiber it), which has `a relativelyhigh index of refraction. Due to the spiralling and scat-tering of thereflected light waves during the course of their travels from the firsttransverse end 12 to .the opposite end 14,

a Y the required percentage of the total amount of light being rellectedthr-ough the fiber will be permitted to reach the layer 22 on thesurface 18 of that particular fiber 10.

For the purpose of explaining the operating principles of the inventionI have shown the switch means in the drawing asY being comprised of nineoptical fibers 10, and have identified these iibers decimally as fibers1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8 and 9. I have also shown the switch means as beingcomprised of four electrical conductor-s 36a, 36h, 36o and dbeingconnected, respectively, to output terminals W, X, Y and Z. The ninelibers will represent the light responsive decimal input elements totheswitch and the four terminals W, X, Y and Z will represent the binarycode related output terminals, which I have shown again in the Table 1,below, for a more complete explanation of the switch means of thisinvention. Y

Conversion Table l1 Binary Output Decimal Input X Y Z An examination ofthe Conversion Table 1, will show that there is a direct relationshipbetween it and the switch means of the invention as illustrated inFIGURE 1. Each of the fiber 11i-conductor. 36 crossing connectors 38 inFIGURE 1,l are represented by binary digits l in the Table 1. At eachliber lil-conductor 36 crossing where there is no electrical connectionbetween them, such crossings are represented by the binary 0 in theTable 1.V Y Y A voltage supply terminal 40 is connected to the electrode32 as a means of connecting a voltage to the switch means which willthen be connected to the binary output terminals W, X, Y and Z, underthe control of decimally positioned light admitted to the fibers 10. Forexample, light being admitted to the fiber which `has been decimallyidentified as liber 7, allows the layer 22 of photoconductive materialon the surface 18 of this particular liber to be electrically conductivefrom the iirst end 24 to the second end 26. A voltage being connected tothe electrode 32 terminal 40 will be connected, respectively, to theconductors 36a, 36h andicY at the interconnection points 38 where theseconductors cross theA decimally identified liber 7. A voltage,.therefore, will also appear ori the binary'output terminals W, Xvand Y,which may then be transformed, respectively, to binary voltage levels 1,2, and 4. v

In accordance with the Conversion Table l, above, a voltage on theterminal 4t) can be made to appear, selectively, on the binaryoutputterminals W, X, Y and Z, under the control of-decimalized vlight inputfunctions. Although I have limited myself, in the illustration, to theshowing of but nine decimal input fibers 10, and four binary outputterminals, it should be understood by those skilled in the arts that myinvention is not limited in this regard. It should likewise beunderstood that a plurality of fibers 10 may be arranged in rectangularymatrix arrays, or in circular arrays, and ystill bei under the controlof decimalized lightinput functions.

It should, of course, be understood that many of the other embodimentsembracing the general principles and constructions hereinbefore setforth, may be utilize-d and still be within the ambit of the presentinvention.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and describedherein is illustrative only, and the invention arene/te includes suchother modifications and equivalents as may readily appear to thoseskilled in the arts, and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

p ll. Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(a) a system of parallel binary code related electrical conductors;

(b) an electrode;

(c) photoconductor material interconnecting said system of conductorsand said electrode;

(d) a system of parallel first light conductor means,

having a predetermined index of refraction, for supporting saidphotoconductor material and conducting light to said photoconductormaterial;

(e) second light conductor means intimately joined to saidv first lightconductor means, having an index of refraction less than saidpredeterminedv index, forV controlling the reliection of light throughsaid first light conductor means and reliection of light to saidphotoconductor material;

(f) Vsaid paralleled Vlight conductor mean-s being angularly displacedwith respect to said parallel electrical conductors so-as to definebetween them a plurality of rows and columns of light and electricalconductor crossings; and

(g) means for operatively connecting said electrical conductors ,to-said electrode through said photoconductor material coincident withpredetermined ones of said light and electrical conductorcrossings-whereby independent sets of binary code relatedinterconnections will be made between said electrical conductors andsaid electrode upon the retlection of light to said material coincidentwith predetermined -rows Vof said crossings.

V2. Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(a) a system of parallel binary code related electrical conductors; y y

(b) an electrode with means for connecting a voltage thereto;

(c) photoconductor material interconnecting said system of conductorsand said electrode;

(d) a system of parallel first light conductor means,

'having-a predetermined index of refraction, for supporting saidphotoconductor material;

(e) second light conductor means intimately joined to said first lightconductor means, having an index of refraction less than saidpredetermined index, for controlling the conductionA of light throughsaid lirst lightconduetor means to ysaid photoconductor material and,thereby, controlling the extension of said voltage to said system ofelectrical conductors;

(f) ysaid paralleled light conductor means being angularlydisplaced withrespect to said parallel electrical conductors so as to define betweenthem a plurality of rows and columns'of paralleled lightand electricalconductor crossings; and

(g) means for operatively connecting said system of paralleledelectrical conductors to said electrode through said material coincidentwith predetermined ones of said lightand electrical conductor crossings.

3; Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(a) a system of paralleled binary code related electrical conductors; t

(b) an electrode with means for connecting a voltage thereto; Y

(c) photoconductor material interconnecting said system ofv conductorsand said electrode;

(d) a system of paralleled lirst light conductor means,

having a predetermined 'index of refraction, for supporting saidphotoconductor material and conducting light to said photoconductormaterial in response to a decimally positioned light source;

'arenoso y (e) second light conductor means intimately joined to saidfirst light conductor means, having an index of refraction less thansaid predetermined index, for

controlling the reflection of light through said rst light conductormeans and reilection of light to said photoconductor material;

(i) means for deriving binary code related voltages from said system ofelectrical conductors corresponding to the decimal position of saidlight source;

(g) said paralleled light conductor means being angularly displaced withrespect to said paralleled electrical conductors so as to define betweenthem a plurality of rows and columns of light conductor and electricalconductor intersections; and

(h) means for interconnecting said system of electrical conductors andsaid electrode coincident with said intersections so as to provide apredetermined matrix of binary code related light conductor andelectrical conductor intersections.

1i. Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(d) said photoconductor material being adapted to exl tend the iniluenceof said voltage to said system of electrical conductors, selectively, inresponse to light exposed thereto;

(e) a system of paralleled decimally oriented light conductors adaptedto control the exposure of said photoconductor material to a decimallypositioned light source;

(f) means for deriving binary code related voltages from said system ofelectrical conductors corresponding to the decimal position of saidlight source;

(g) said paralleled light conductors and said paralleled electricalconductors being supported respectively on adjacent planes and angularlydisplaced with respect to one another so as to define between them aplurality of rows and columns of light conductor and electricalconductor crossings;

(h) means for operatively connecting said system of electricalconductors to said electrode, through said photoconductor material,coincident with predetermined ones of said light conductor andelectrical conductor crossings--whereby independent sets of said binarycode related voltages will be derived from said system of electricalconductors as a function of the position of said light source inrelation to said rows of crossings.

5. Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(a) a system of paralleled binary code related electrical conductors;

(b) an electrode with means for connecting a voltage thereto;

(c) photoconductor material interconnecting said system of conductorsand said electrode;

(d) a system of paralleled decimally oriented light conductors, eachhaving a predetermined index of refraction, for controlling theconduction of light to said photoconductor material from a decimallyoriented light source, and a light conducting jacket having an index ofrefraction less than said predetermined index or controlling thereflection of light through said light conductors;

(e) said photoconductor material being adapted to extend binary coderelated voltages to said system of electrical conductors correspondingto the decimal position of said light source;

(f) said paralleled light conductors and said paralleled electricalconductors being supported respectively on adjacent planes and angularlydisplaced with respect to one another so as to deiine between them aplurality of rows and columns of light conductor and electricalconductor crossings; and

(g) means for operatively connecting said system of electricalconductors to said electrode, through said photoconductor material,coincident with predetermined ones of said light conductor andelectrical conductor crossings-whereby said binary code related voltageswill be extended to said system of electrical conductors correspondingto the decimal position of said light source and the position of saidlight source relative to said rows of crossings.

6. Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(a) a system of paralleled binary code related electrical conductors;

(b) an electrode with means for connecting a voltage thereto;

(c) photoconductor material interconnecting said system of conductorsand said electrode;

(d) a system of paralleled, decimally oriented, light conductor meansfor controlling the exposure of said photoconductor material to adecimally oriented light beam;

(e) said photoconductor material interconnecting said system ofconductors and said electrode in a predetermined manner whereby binarycode related voltages will be extended to said system of electricalconductors corresponding to a predetermined position of said decimallyoriented light beam;

(t) said system of electrical conductors being angularly displaced withrespect to said system of light conductor means and supported adjacenteach other so as to define between said respective systems an array ofrows and columns of light conductor and electrical conductor crossings;

(g) means for interconnecting said system of electrical conductors andsaid electrode by means of said photoconductor materail coincident withpredetermined crossings of said array-whereby independent sets of saidbinary code related voltages will be extended to said system ofelectrical conductors upon the exposure of said light beam topredetermined rows of crossings and said photoconductor materialadjacent said crossings.

7. Light responsive decimal to binary data converter switch meanscomprising:

(a) a longitudinally extending layer of photoconductor material havinglirst and second ends;

(b) an electrode with means for connecting a voltage thereto;

(c) means for exposing said photoconductor material to a decimallypositioned light beam;

(d) a plurality of paralleled, binary code related, electricalconductors;

(e) said conductors and said electrode being operatively connected tosaid photoconductor material intermediate said rst and second ends, andadapted to extend binary code related voltages from said electrode tosaid conductors upon the exposure of said light beam .to saidphotoconductor material;

(t) said last stated means including a system of paralleled iirst lightconductor means, having a predetermined index ot refraction, forsupporting said layer of photoconductor material and conducting saidlight thereto, and a second light conductor means intimately joined tosaid iirst light conductor means, having an index of refraction lessthan said predetermined index, for controlling the reiiection of saidlight through said `first light conductor means and reflection of saidlight to said layer; and

(g) said paralleled light conductor means and said paralleled electricalconductors being supported in relation to each other so as to providebetween them a pluraliy of rows and columns of crossover points,2,923,828 2/69 Bornath Z50-211 X and light responsive switch meansadjacent each of 3,001,078 9/ 61 Rulon 250-211 X said points forcontrolling said extensionof voltages 3,047,867 7/ 62 McNaney 2SC-227from said electrode to said electrical conductors. 3,056,031 9 /62McNaney 250-.-227 X 3,059,115 10/ 612 Lempcki 'Z50- 211 X ReferencesSited'by the. Examiner 3,085,159 4/63 McNaney 25o-227 X UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,033,037 4/63 Baum Z50-227 3,110,816 11/63' '1v t 1 2,843,7737/58 Wardley 25o-211 X Kals er e a 250 211 X SMEVH et al 2N2-62112153?10 RALPH G. NILSON, PrimaryExaminver. oe ner 2,911,539 11/59 Tanenbaum250-211 X ARCHE R- BORCHELT Examiner-

1. LIGHT RESPONSIVE DECIMAL TO BINARY DATA CONVERTER SWITCH MEANSCOMPRISING: (A) A SYSTEM OF PARALLEL BINARY CODE RELATED ELECTRICALCONDUCTORS; (B) AN ELECTRODE; (C) PHOTOCONDUCTOR MATERIALINTERCONNECTING SAID SYSTEM OF CONDUCTORS AND SAID ELECTRODE; (D) ASYSTEM OF PARALLEL FIRST LIGHT CONDUCTOR MEANS, HAVING A PREDETERMINEDINDEX OF REFRACTION, FOR SUPPORTING SAID PHOTOCONDUCTOR MATERIAL ANDCONDUCTING LIGHT TO SAID PHOTOCONDUCTOR MATERIAL; (E) SECOND LIGHTCONDUCTOR MEANS INTIMATELY JOINED TO SAID FIRST LIGHT CONDUCTOR MEANS,HAVING AN INDEX OF REFRACTION LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED INDEX, FORCONTROLLING THE REFLECTION OF LIGHT THROUGH SAID FIRST LIGHT CONDUCTORMEANS AND REFLECTION OF LIGHT TO SAID PHOTOCONDUCTOR MATERIAL; (F) SAIDPARALLELED LIGHT CONDUCTOR MEANS BEING ANGULARLY DISPLACED WITH RESPECTTO SAID PARALLEL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS SO AS TO DEFINE BETWEEN THEM APLURALITY OF ROWS AND COLUMNS OF LIGHT AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORCROSSINGS; AND (G) MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID ELECTRICALCONDUCTORS TO SAID ELECTRODE THROUGH SAID PHOTOCONDUCTOR MATERIALCOINCIDENT WITH PREDETERMINED ONES OF SAID LIGHT AND ELECTRICALCONDUCTOR CROSSINGS - WHEREBY INDEPENDENT SETS OF BINARY CODE RELATEDINTERCONNECTIONS WILL BE MADE BETWEEN SAID ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS ANDSAID ELECTRODE UPON THE REFLECTION OF LIGHT TO SAID MATERIAL COINCIDENTWITH PREDETERMINED ROWS OF SAID CROSSINGS.